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September 15, 2004

by Jared Bean

From the Parking Lot:

Well sports fans: We cannot say we don’t know what this feels like. The feeling of a loss is all too familiar, and is the part of being a sports fan that makes you wonder why there are so many of us. Think about it, there are like a thousand College Football teams, and one (maybe two, see: BCS) reach the top every year. That leaves a heck of a lot of “also-rans.” And it leaves a lot of fans to scratch their heads, feel the heartache, and wonder what it must feel like. BUT, those fans always come back. Let’s face it sports fans are gluttons for punishment. For Penn State, this has been all too evident in the past years, and the feeling resurfaced on Saturday after a dismal performance in Chestnut Hill.

The offense looked completely inconsistent, the defense looked again like they were chasing from behind, and the coaching staff appeared as if they aren’t only making the wrong choices, but that perhaps they don’t know what the right decisions are.

Once again, there are more questions than answers. More thoughts of what if, than WOW! And more head scratching, than hand clapping. This team just plain doesn’t know itself, doesn’t have the confidence to make plays, and doesn’t trust in each other or the coaching staff to put it all on the field. The attitude and culture of Penn State football is on the verge of changing forever unless something gets better…and soon.

From the field:

Since my last column the crew has enjoyed a great tailgate at the season opening Akron game. Enthusiasm was high, even if we were on edge about the parking situation. Once again the parking was hit or miss and this week we hit, and ended up where we were last year. What next week will bring, only Herb Schmidt knows.

The Akron tailgate was full of family and fun, and best of all tons of food, including some new recipes. The food was out of this world and included old favorites like buffalo wings and pizza casserole, and new dishes like gyros and hot bean dip.

The PennStateTailgate.com-ers were in midseason form and provided the food and fun that is unparalleled in the fields around Beaver Stadium. We’ve evolved over the years, but at the end of the day if you have a grill, a cooler, and a bunch of friends it can’t possibly go wrong.

The parking lots are the last segment of the Penn State football culture that hasn’t lost its position at the top. Our tailgaters are the best in the country, and now need to once again turn our attention to being fans and bringing our enthusiasm and excitement to the football team. I have said it before, the view from the parking lot is crucial and the NittanyNation needs to show it’s colors.

See you at Beaver Stadium!

Until next time…GO STATE!

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